Electrohydraulics steadies cargo removal on ships

Eaton Corp.'s Hydraulics Group, Eden Prairie, Minn. announced Monday that Page Macrae Engineering of Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, a major manufacturer of ship cargo handling equipment in Australasia, has selected Eaton components to help improve reliability, as well operation and safety, of the grab-control system of its Diesel Hydraulic Series grabs.

Operated via remote control by a ship’s crane operator, the grabs discharge bulk material from a ship’s hold with the aid of an Eaton F(x) electrohydraulic system featuring a mobile control valve, piston pump, controller, screw-in cartridge valves, hose and fittings, and filtration products.

Eaton was chosen for a number of reasons, the company said, notably for the fact that its integrated control/hydraulic system package can facilitate a two-stage, bucket-opening process that reduces losses in windy conditions and enables the engine to slide out quickly for maintenance and repairs.